CN1751637B

CN1751637B - Coffee apparatus with a height-adustable collecting bowl

Info

Publication number: CN1751637B
Application number: CN2005101063102A
Authority: CN
Inventors: M·图里
Original assignee: Saeco IPR Ltd
Current assignee: Koninklijke Philips NV
Priority date: 2004-09-24
Filing date: 2005-09-23
Publication date: 2010-05-05
Anticipated expiration: 2025-09-23
Also published as: KR20060048893A; US20060065126A1; EP1639926A1; AU2005202976B2; DE502005006517D1; ATE421273T1; BRPI0503380A; ES2320563T3; RU2296498C2; TW200610513A; HK1087601A1; TWI357809B; CN1751637A; EP1639926B1; MXPA05008013A; AU2005202976A1; RU2005121164A; US7478584B2

Abstract

coffee machine has height adjusting unit for adjusting height position of collecting tray adapted for accommodation of one or two coffee cups to be filled with coffee beverage. Collecting tray is attached to supporting member. Height adjusting unit has at least one vertical toothed rail which may loosely fixed to slide provided on supporting member. Slide is spring-loaded to toothed rail and may be manually moved against force developed by spring.

Description

The adjustable for height coffee-maker of afflux dish

Technical field

The present invention relates to a kind of coffee-maker, these facility have a housing, a beverage outlet, and an afflux dish and the height that can regulate afflux dish height and position that is positioned under the beverage outlet is regulated sub-assembly.

Background technology

In coffee-maker, particularly in Italian type espresso coffee-maker, the afflux dish that is used for accepting waiting irritating coffee cup preferably like this design its height and position can be conditioned with the height of coffee cup, thereby the cup with differing heights can both be placed under the beverage outlet with suitable distance.

Patent document EP-B-1,278,444A1 once disclosed a kind of beverage maker, and these facility have a pedestal that is provided with the afflux dish.Be provided with a lid on the afflux dish, this lid constitutes the supporting of container for drink.In addition, these facility have a column that is connected securely on the pedestal, and the head of column is provided with a beverage outlet.The afflux dish be covered with a coaming plate, wall has three sections vertically stacked slide rails up and down within it, and respectively is provided with rib in the both sides of this dish, this rib is suitable to be engaged with one section slide rail wherein.The height and position of this machine middle cover can be conditioned on three steps.

Patent document EP-A-0,585,607 once disclosed a kind of adjustable for height espresso coffee-maker of support plate.This support plate is linked on the bottom of this machine by an afflux dish.Highly regulate the principle of the screw-driven that follows, or between the bottom of this machine and afflux dish or between afflux dish and support plate, work.Rotate the just height and position of adjustable support plate of afflux dish.

Patent document DE-A-32,41,606 once disclosed a kind of electric coffee-maker, and this machine has an adjutage or a beam under the coffee beverage outlet, is provided with an afflux dish on this beam.This afflux dish is provided with passage by one and can supports the cover plate covering of two coffee mugs.

All above-mentioned these coffee-makers all have such shortcoming, and promptly afflux dish and support plate all can only be regulated its height in limited scope.

At last, patent document CH 315,837 once disclosed a kind of espresso electricity coffee-maker, and this machine is provided with the steamer of the perpendicular wall sealing of a quilt.In order to accept to contain the cup of coffee, under modulation container vertical direction, be provided with an adjustable for height plate.This plate has a slide block can be by leading in the vertical slots of perpendicular wall.The side of this groove be provided with ratchet can be by cam member on set locking piece engage.This locking piece be connected to one by the position on the pusher that returns by spring force that a club of plate bottom constitutes.Operate this pusher locking piece is disengaged, so just can regulate the height and position of this plate.In this design, adjustable for height plate exists danger unstable and that wave, because it is by leading in central authorities.In addition, this plate may be comparatively responsive to eccentric load.

Summary of the invention

An object of the present invention is to provide a kind of coffee-maker, and this machine has a coffee cup to stop part, and its height and position can be conditioned rapidly and easily in broad scope.

Another object of the present invention is that a kind of coffee-maker that coffee cup stops part that has will be provided, and wherein should stop part basically can canting when doing the operation of its height and position of adjusting.

A further object of the invention is that a kind of coffee-maker that coffee cup stops part that has will be provided, and wherein this stop part can stably be fixed on the selected height and position.

In order to realize above-mentioned these and other some purposes, coffee-maker provided by the present invention has a housing, a beverage outlet, an afflux dish and the height adjusting sub-assembly in order to adjusting afflux dish height and position that is positioned under the beverage outlet.This afflux dish is linked on the supporting member highly regulating sub-assembly, and is provided with a cover plate that is suitable for accepting at least one coffee cup.

According to first scheme of the present invention, this is highly regulated sub-assembly and has a rack member of vertically extending and two rail guide pieces that extend and be suitable for guide support spare along said gear member both sides.This supporting member of highly regulating in the sub-assembly has at least one element, and this at least one element is suitable for engaging with said rack member, and on perpendicular to the direction of said rack member said supporting member releasably is locked on the said rack member.

According to alternative plan of the present invention, this is highly regulated sub-assembly and has two rack member and a position rail guide piece betwixt.This supporting member is provided with a guide member that can engage with guide rail and an axle spare, and this part respectively has a pinion at its two ends, each pinion respectively with two rack member in one engage.

Providing when highly regulating sub-assembly, or extend in its both sides and the rail guide pieces of the guide support that suits with a tooth bar that vertically extends and two, or with two rack member and a position rail guide piece betwixt, all can be and in broad scope, regulate the basic prerequisite of height and position creation that coffee cup stops part, at this moment this stop part is fixed on the selected position steadily and is guided reliably, therefore can canting when regulating height and position.

Description of drawings

Further specify embodiment below in conjunction with accompanying drawing according to coffee-maker of the present invention.In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is the side view of coffee-maker;

Fig. 2 is the decomposition diagram of some member of coffee-maker;

Fig. 3 is another decomposition diagram of member shown in Figure 2;

Fig. 4 is the longitudinal sectional view of some member of coffee-maker;

Fig. 4 a is a guide wire of alternative shape among Fig. 4;

Fig. 5 is the transverse sectional view of member shown in Figure 4;

Fig. 6 is the front perspective view of another embodiment of guide mechanism;

Fig. 7 is the parts transversely cutaway view of another embodiment among Fig. 6; And

Fig. 8 is the longitudinal sectional view of another embodiment among Fig. 6.

The specific embodiment

Fig. 1 illustrates the side view of a semi-automatic coffee-maker.Because this coffee-maker is all very familiar to any expert of the industry, therefore have only those features relevant further to discuss at this paper with the present invention.

The housing of coffee-maker is usually pointed out with label 1, which is provided with the beverage outlet 2 of a position on afflux dish 3.This afflux dish 3 is used for collecting liquid, particularly Can Yu water and coffee beverage, for example liquid that oozes from beverage outlet 2 after coffee beverage prepares.The top of afflux dish 3 is provided with a grid 4, can place one or two coffee mug thereon.Afflux dish 3 usefulness one are regulated sub-assembly 6 and are attached on the housing 1 of coffee-maker in adjustable for height mode.

In Fig. 2, coffee-maker particularly its a plurality of members and element of highly regulating sub-assembly is illustrated with the exploded view of watching from eminence. specifically, in this figure, can see: afflux dish 3, grid 4, L shaped supporting member 8, sliding part 9, be located at the tooth bar 10 on the coffee-maker lower housing portion, and the middle body 14 of balladeur train 11. tooth bars 10 is provided with a plurality of detent projection, two sides of tooth bar 10 respectively are provided with the guide rail of a swallow tail shaped slot. and balladeur train 11 is provided with size and all corresponding with the swallow tail shaped slot guiding cam of shape. and in addition, balladeur train 11 also is provided with cylindrical stub shaft 17, linking supporting member 8. like this with a screw facility that does not illustrate in addition on it, this relevant adjusting sub-assembly just can be basically by tooth bar 10, constituting together with two guide rails 15 and balladeur train 11. said sliding part 9 is used for supporting member 8 is locked on the tooth bar 10 with vertical direction, and this will further specify afterwards.

This sliding part 9 is provided with two compression springs 21 in addition.In Fig. 2, have only one of them spring 21 to see; Will be appreciated that another spring is the opposite side of symmetrical status at this sliding part 9.These two springs 21 can make supporting member return in the direction towards tooth bar.Supporting member pin 8a is formed on the bottom of supporting member 8, and its top side is provided with a press element 18 and is used for fixing afflux dish 3.

More than height said and expression in the accompanying drawings regulate sub-assembly and have a central tooth bar 10 and two positions guide rail 15 in its both sides, can guarantee to regulate the height and position of supporting member 8 rapidly and easily and can worry that cantings can take place for supporting member 8 and balladeur train 11.Owing to be provided with two guide rails 15, it is hereby ensured that supporting member 8 can be supported steadily by coffee-maker and not very sensitive to eccentric load.

In Fig. 3, the member of Fig. 2 and element are illustrated with the exploded view of watching from lower.In this figure, illustrate significantly especially a position at the depression 19 of afflux dish 3 bottoms, two positions at the slider bar 23 of supporting member 8 bottoms, protuberance and two compression springs 21 of position on sliding part 9.In addition, can see that in this figure supporting member pin 8a and sliding part 9 all respectively are provided with the

coaming plate

25,26 of position in this two

elements

8a, 9 front sides, this coaming plate can be made the usefulness of handle.

Slider bar 23 is used for guiding and supporting sliding part 9, and sliding part 9 relies on two springs 21 to return to tooth bar 10.Being located at protuberance on the sliding part 9 has all corresponding with the detent projection of tooth bar 10 anterior of a shape and size and is used for locking balladeur train 11, makes them no longer include any vertical motion together with supporting member 8 and afflux dish 3.Coaming plate 26 is used for gripping the elastic force that sliding part 9 makes the operator can overcome two springs 21 and moves forward, thereby protuberance 24 is disengaged from tooth bar 10.Utilize the position mode that afflux dish 3 usefulness promote to cooperate can be linked on the press element 18 that puts in place on supporting member pin 8a (Fig. 2) top at the depression 19 of afflux dish 3 bottoms.

Fig. 4 is the member of Fig. 2 and 3 and the longitudinal sectional view of element.In order to regulate the height and position of afflux dish, available hand grips the coaming plate 26 of sliding part 9, overcomes the elastic force of spring 21, and sliding part is spurred forward.Like this, protuberance 24 just can be deviate to engage in the particular groove of tooth bar 10, the result, and balladeur train 11 just can move up or down together with the afflux dish 3 that links thereon.

Fig. 4 a is the enlarged drawing of a part among Fig. 4.Illustrate especially significantly in the figure, the protuberance 24 of the sliding part that the elastic force of dependence spring 21 returns is bonded in the groove 10a of tooth bar 10 how non-rigidly.Afflux dish 3 may for example be loaded by two coffee mugs that are full of, and skids off from engage in order to prevent protuberance, and the bottom section of particular groove 10a along continuous straight runs basically extends, and top area is made into to tilt.

Fig. 5 is the transverse sectional view of member and element among Fig. 4.The guide rail 15 that relies on sliding part 9, protuberance 24 and two swallow-tail forms that two springs 21 return is shown especially in this figure significantly.

The front perspective view that Fig. 6 watches from eminence for another embodiment 27 that regulates sub-assembly.This adjusting sub-assembly 27 has a bearing 28 that vertically extends, and this bearing has one and is essentially rectangular cross section and a front side of opening wide of pointing to afflux dish 3a.So just, constitute two and be essentially L shaped sidewall 29,30.The top of this bearing 28 is provided with a top panel 31.The bottom inside of two L shaped

sidewalls

29,30 respectively is provided with a tooth bar, and this will further specify afterwards.And, in order to guide and support afflux dish 3a, also be provided with a supporting member 32.

In addition, regulating sub-assembly 27 has a screw rod 33 that is driven by motor 34 and is used for regulating the height of supporting member 32 together with afflux dish 3a. and this afflux dish 3a is provided with the first sensor 36 of a position in its top side and can both responds with contacting of finger with a position second sensor, 37. these two sensors in its bottom side and operate in its front portion, and all being operably connected on the electronic control module (not shown) of coffee-maker. motor 34 also operationally is connected on the electronic control module of coffee-maker at that time, and the such operation of quilt makes, and its can move down afflux dish 3a with first direction rotating screw bolt 33 when contact upper sensor 36, and when contact lower sensor 37, it can move up afflux dish 3a with second direction rotating screw bolt 33.

Moving upward of afflux dish 3a in addition, be provided with a upper limit position switch 38, in case when being attached at lever (not shown) on the supporting member 32 and running into this limit switch 38, just can be stopped.Similarly, but also be provided with moving downward of a lower position switch (not shown) restriction set flow table 3a.Said screw rod 33 is provided with self-locking thread, and therefore when screw rod 33 stopped, this supporting member 32 may be locked on its vertical position.

Fig. 7 is the perspective view of embodiment among Fig. 6, and in order to make drawing more clear, a part of top is cut at that time.Like this, clear illustrating in this figure, except member above-mentioned and element, have one 44 of 39,40, two usefulness of two tooth bars rigidly mutually 41,42, one of the pinions of coupling be provided with guide groove 43 and a guide member 49 on the rear wall 35.These two tooth bars 39,40 are integral parts of two

sidewalls

29,30; Specifically, they are to make on the inboard of two

sidewalls

29,30

bottom

29a, 30a separately.Two pinions 41,42 respectively non-rigidly with two tooth bars 39,40 in one engage.

The bearing 47 that this guide member 49 constitutes the part of supporting member 32 and has a U font.There are two guide wheels that in guide groove 43, are guided 45 rotatably to be received within this U-shaped bearing.But in Fig. 7, have only in two guide wheels 45 top one as seen.These two guide wheels are used for the supporting member 32 that moving up and down at lateral steering.In addition, they can guarantee that supporting member 32 can not move by rear wall 35 rearwards, and such two pinions 41,42 just can engage with tooth bar 39,40 forcibly.This afflux dish 3a is linked on the supporting member 32 with a supporting arm 48.

Because the

guide wheel

45,46 that is provided with guide groove 43 and engages with it, and two tooth bars 39,40 and engage rigidly with it and with axle 44 interconnected two pinions 41,42, this embodiment can guarantee that also this supporting member 32 can be regulated height rapidly and easily and can worry its meeting canting and can be bearing in steadily on the coffee-maker and not very sensitive to eccentric load.

Fig. 8 is the longitudinal sectional view of embodiment among Fig. 6.What obviously illustrate in this figure also has except member above-mentioned and element: afflux dish 3a, screw rod 33, motor 34, axle 44, guide member 49 that makes 41,42 interconnection of two pinions for the tooth bar 39 of the part of sidewall 30, rigidly are together with bearing 47 and two

guide wheels

45,46 and supporting arm 48.In addition, can see that upper block 45 is to be bearing on the bearing 47 with compression spring 50.Because this elastic bearing of upper block 45 can guarantee that afflux dish 3a always is held on the throne, can leaving gap, and two

guide wheels

45,46 can forever contact with guide groove 43.At last, also can see two connecting holes 51, this hole is used for admitting and connects facility such as screw, so that supporting arm 48 is attached on the bearing 47.

In numerous advantages of this height adjustment mechanism, what be worth to propose especially is that the height and position of afflux dish 3a can infinitely be regulated in a broad scope.Its to one 44 of two pinions, 41,42 usefulness interconnection rigidly can guarantee that afflux dish 3a support securely by bearing 28, can not move basically under the situation of load or bending having.The steadiness of whole sub-assembly also structurally further is enhanced, and supporting member 32 is made of a crossbeam, and two ends are respectively established a pinion 41,42 and engaged with tooth bar 39,40 respectively, and

guide wheel

45,46 is supported in the central authorities of supporting member 32.

The above embodiment that discusses in conjunction with Fig. 6 to 8 is specially adapted to espresso coffee-maker fully automatically, the height of afflux dish is regulated also available semi-automatic or full automatic mode and is finished. and a sensor for example can be set recognize the height of the coffee mug that is placed on the afflux dish and automatically the afflux dish is moved to suitable height and position. in order to realize this mode, need be after the coffee modulation operations is finished each time the afflux dish be moved to its minimum position. but also may adopt other modes, for example can be according to the type of wanting modulated coffee beverage, as espresso coffee (coffee that cooks with steam pressurized), cappuccino coffee (with milk or coffee that cream cooks with Steam Heating), regular coffee waits to determine the displacement of afflux dish.

As what discuss in conjunction with Fig. 6 to 8, the embodiment of employing motor and screw rod substitutes, and the height and position of supporting member is regulated also available manual mode and realized.In this case, axle 44 preferably is provided with that suit to lock with suitable locking mechanism, as to add a median denticle wheel.This locking mechanism for example can constitute like this, returns and can be provided with prominent can the wheel with the median denticle that adds of a tooth to engage in its termination around the lever of this rotation with a dependence spring force, thereby stop its to continue rotation.When unclamping, the elastic force that must make this lever overcome spring pivots, and supporting member just can move to required height and position together with the afflux dish like this.And when rotation under the influence of this lever at spring force was returned, the median denticle of this interpolation wheel was just locked again.Just but in the vertical direction is locked together with this afflux dish for this supporting member as a result.

Claims

1. coffee-maker, having a housing, beverage outlet, one is positioned at afflux dish under the said beverage outlet and one and regulates sub-assembly in order to the height of regulating said afflux dish height and position, this is highly regulated sub-assembly and has a supporting member, said afflux dish is attached at said height and regulates on the said supporting member of sub-assembly, and be provided with a cover piece that is suitable for admitting at least one coffee cup, it is characterized by:

This is highly regulated sub-assembly and has a rack member of vertically extending and two rail guide pieces that extend and be suitable for guiding said supporting member along said rack member both sides, the said supporting member that said height is regulated sub-assembly has at least one element, this at least one element is suitable for engaging with said rack member, and on perpendicular to the direction of said rack member said supporting member releasably is locked on the said rack member.

2. the coffee-maker of claim 1, it is characterized by, said at least one element that said height is regulated sub-assembly has a sliding part that relies on spring to said rack member bias voltage, this sliding part can overcome the elastic force of said spring and moves with hand, thereby on perpendicular to the direction of said rack member said supporting member releasably is locked on the said rack member.

3. the coffee-maker of claim 1 is characterized by, and said rack member is in central authorities on this housing and the central authorities between said two rail guide pieces.

4. the coffee-maker of claim 3, it is characterized by, said rail guide piece is provided with dovetail groove, said height is regulated sub-assembly and is had a balladeur train spare, this balladeur train spare can move along said rail guide piece, and is provided with the guiding cam member in these balladeur train spare both sides, and the size of said guiding cam member is consistent with said dovetail groove with shape, and engage, said thus supporting member is attached on the said balladeur train spare.

5. the coffee-maker of claim 1, it is characterized by, said supporting member is L shaped, and have a leg and a horizontally extending pin that vertically extends, the top side of said pin is provided with a press element, said afflux dish is provided with a corresponding press element, be suitable for engaging with said press element on the said supporting member pin, thereby the afflux dish releasably is linked on the supporting member.

6. coffee-maker, having a housing, beverage outlet, one is positioned at afflux dish under the said beverage outlet and one and regulates sub-assembly in order to the height of regulating said afflux dish height and position, this is highly regulated sub-assembly and has a supporting member, said afflux dish is attached at said height and regulates on the said supporting member of sub-assembly, and be provided with a cover piece that is suitable for admitting at least one coffee cup, it is characterized by

This is highly regulated sub-assembly and has two rack member and the rail guide piece between said two rack member, said supporting member is provided with a guide member that engages with said rail guide piece and an axle spare, this part respectively has a pinion at its two ends, an engagement in each pinion and said two rack member.

7. the coffee-maker of claim 6, it is characterized by, said height is regulated sub-assembly and is had a bearing that vertically extends and be provided with said two rack member, and two pinions are connected to each other rigidly by said axle part, and be provided with facility, in order to the locking of said axle part is not allowed rotation.

8. the coffee-maker of claim 7 is characterized by, and is provided with facility, uses so that said supporting member vertically moves along said bearing.

9. the coffee-maker of claim 8, it is characterized by, said have a velamen one electric motor driven screw rod in order to the facility that vertically moves said supporting member, and this screw rod operationally is connected on the said supporting member, makes vertically to move by rotating the said supporting member of said screw rod.

10. the coffee-maker of claim 7 is characterized by, and said bearing is provided with the said rail guide piece of vertical extension, and this rail guide piece engages with guide wheel on being located at said supporting member.

11. the coffee-maker of claim 8 is characterized by, said bearing is provided with the said rail guide piece of vertical extension, and this rail guide piece engages with guide wheel on being located at said supporting member.

12. the coffee-maker of claim 9 is characterized by, said bearing is provided with the said rail guide piece of vertical extension, and this rail guide piece engages with guide wheel on being located at said supporting member.

13. the coffee-maker of claim 7, it is characterized by, said bearing has one and is rectangular cross section, and it is unlimited in a side towards said afflux dish, form two like this and be the L shaped sidewall that a bottom is respectively arranged, the inboard of two sidewall bottoms respectively is provided with a said rack member, and the inboard of said bearing rear wall is provided with said rail guide piece, said thus supporting member is engaged the guide wheel guiding of said rail guide piece, causes said pinion to engage with said rack member forcibly.

14. the coffee-maker of claim 8, it is characterized by, said bearing has one and is rectangular cross section, and it is unlimited in a side towards said afflux dish, form two like this and be the L shaped sidewall that a bottom is respectively arranged, the inboard of two sidewall bottoms respectively is provided with a said rack member, and the inboard of said bearing rear wall is provided with said rail guide piece, said thus supporting member is engaged the guide wheel guiding of said rail guide piece, causes said pinion to engage with said rack member forcibly.

15. the coffee-maker of claim 9, it is characterized by, said bearing has one and is rectangular cross section, and it is unlimited in a side towards said afflux dish, form two like this and be the L shaped sidewall that a bottom is respectively arranged, the inboard of two sidewall bottoms respectively is provided with a said rack member, and the inboard of said bearing rear wall is provided with said rail guide piece, said thus supporting member is engaged the guide wheel guiding of said rail guide piece, causes said pinion to engage with said rack member forcibly.

16. the coffee-maker of claim 10, it is characterized by, said bearing has one and is rectangular cross section, and it is unlimited in a side towards said afflux dish, form two like this and be the L shaped sidewall that a bottom is respectively arranged, the inboard of two sidewall bottoms respectively is provided with a said rack member, and the inboard of said bearing rear wall is provided with said rail guide piece, said thus supporting member is engaged the guide wheel guiding of said rail guide piece, causes said pinion to engage with said rack member forcibly.

17. the coffee-maker of one of claim 10 or 13 is characterized by, said supporting member is provided with two guide wheels, and wherein at least one guide wheel by said supporting members support with a compression spring.

18. the coffee-maker of one of claim 7 to 16, it is characterized by, also have an electronic control unit and be positioned at the dependent sensor that touches in zone, said afflux dish front side with at least one, said sensor operationally is connected on the said electronic control unit, make when contact during said sensor said afflux dish moved up and down by a Motor Drive facility that is operatively coupled on the said electronic control unit.

19. the coffee-maker of claim 18, it is characterized by, also have at least one and be operatively coupled on the discontiguous sensor on the said electronic control unit so that recognize coffee cup automatically, said like this afflux dish just can move up and down according to the height that is placed on the coffee cup on the said afflux Pan Ding.

20. the coffee-maker of one of claim 10 to 16, it is characterized by, the shape of the said axle part of said supporting member is provided with a said pinion as a crossbeam at its two ends, respectively with said rack member in an engagement, said guide wheel is disposed in the central authorities of said supporting member.

21. the coffee-maker of claim 7 is characterized by, and saidly is used for locking said axle part and does not allow the facility of rotation have one to engage with at least one pinion and with the lever of spring bias voltage.

22. the coffee-maker of claim 21 is characterized by, said lever can overcome the elastic force of said spring and moves with hand, makes its rotation thereby unclamp said axle part.

23. the coffee-maker of claim 21 or 22 is characterized by, said axle part is provided with three pinions, and first and second pinions are positioned at the two ends of said axle part, and third pinion is therebetween, and said third pinion is suitable for locking with said lever.